Testimonials, 2012-2018
December 6, 2018
Kathryn helped me improve by teaching me strategies and helping me find ways to do better on my test, like focusing on a smaller part of each section and guessing on the rest. These strategies have finally helped my scores improve. I think I improved mostly because we went back over all my tests and reviewed all my scores and learned how to do/fix the problems that I missed.
~Paige P. (ACT Student)
November 20, 2018
Kathryn helped me complete my entire college application process with ease. Her essay writing techniques and style are amazing and extremely helpful. Her attention to detail is very useful. I'm glad that I got to work with her as a friend through the entire process. My essays have improved significantly, and I'm happy that Kathryn took the time to get to know me and supported my ideas in the best way.
~Prisha K. (Student - College Applications)
November 6, 2018
I absolutely loved every session. Kathryn acted as a friend to me while completely keeping me on track, getting everything needed done. I would absolutely recommend her to anyone. I appreciate all she did for me and my college apps so much and will miss being here every other day. I couldn’t say thank you enough!
The thing that contributed the most to my success was the step-by-step walk through for the college apps. When I first came, I was so stressed about writing essays and getting everything done. Kathryn made it so easy and simple, which took away all my stress.
~Seren K. (Student - College Applications)
October 22, 2018
I loved the friendly environment Kathryn created and the great techniques she taught me. What helped me most were all the little tricks and key words that can’t be taught from any books or websites.
~Lauren H. (ACT Student)
September 7, 2018
Kathryn, I loved working with you this summer! You were very engaging and made the lessons fun. I think reviewing past mistakes and taking practice tests helped me improve my score.
~Isabel H. (ACT Student)
[Isabel is on the Wall of Fame for every category on the ACT: Overall, English, Math, Reading, Science, and Most Improved!]
September 7, 2018
Excellent!!!
Steady organized study with practice tests [contributed most to my daughter’s score improvement].
~Jason H. (ACT Parent)
September 6, 2018
I really enjoyed how fun Kathryn made each session. I also really liked how clear she made the examples and the real-life examples she connected everything to. I think the constant encouragement and strategies really helped me improve. I also think the way Kathryn explained things and had examples that I remembered, even from the first day, raised my scores.
~Megan M. (ACT Student)
[Megan is on the Wall of Fame for her Overall, Most-Improved, English, Reading, and Science scores; she earned a Perfect Score on Reading!]
September 6, 2018
Kathryn was extremely helpful in improving my test scores and teaching me the necessary material. She was also a lot of fun to work with at lessons and helped answer all of the questions I had. All of the materials given were a great help, and all of her stories were enjoyable.
The practice tests and Kaplan book helped a lot in improving my test scores. The strategies also helped a lot with some of the harder test questions.
~Blake L. (ACT Student)
[Blake is on the Wall of Fame for his Overall, English, Math, and Most Improved scores!]
September 6, 2018
I enjoyed working with Kathryn because she made everything clear and simple. I thought the ACT was going to be such a pain to study for, but my sessions and homework spread out the work evenly and made it easy. The most helpful thing that I will take away is all the tips and tricks. When I took practice tests after tutoring, I had a game plan, and after each test, Kathryn went over everything and helped me understand my mistakes so I wouldn’t make them again in the future. I also liked that it wasn’t just instruction, but actual getting to know each other while I learned. Kathryn related concepts to real life situations and applied common sense that I hadn’t recognized before.
I think learning the types of questions and how to answer them contributed to my improvement. The most effective thing was taking practice tests and reviewing my work because on later tests, I would know how to solve a problem I had previously gotten wrong.
~Carlie D. (ACT Student)
[Carlie is on the Wall of Fame for her Overall, English, Reading and Most-Improved scores!]
September 5, 2018
Kathryn was very helpful in teaching useful strategies and techniques that benefitted me on the ACT. I think timing each passage and “gridding in groups” most contributed to my success.
~Megan W. (ACT Student)
September 4, 2018
Kathryn was very helpful in preparing me for the ACT. I feel prepared due to the great practice. Going over missed questions on each section and learning how to do them if faced with similar questions helped me increase my scores the most.
~Noah B. (ACT Student)
[Noah is on the Wall of Fame for his Science and Most Improved scores!]
September 2, 2018
Kathryn was super clear when covering the lessons and answered all of my questions thoroughly. Learning strategies and tricks to help answer questions that were hard for me before working with Kathryn contributed most to my success.
~Cade K. (ACT Student)
September 2, 2018
I had an absolute blast with Kathryn! Not only did I learn how to take a standardized test, but I also had fun while learning it. Learning the strategies of the ACT really helped me increase my score. The understanding of how the test works is necessary for success.
~Miles B. (ACT Student)
[Miles is on the Wall of Fame for his Overall and English scores!]
September 2, 2018
Kathryn was so great and fun to work with. I improved so much and am very happy. Taking practice tests and pacing myself helped me improve my scores the most.
~Maddie F. (ACT Student)
[Maddie is on the Wall of Fame for her Overall, English, Math, and Most Improved scores!]
August 27, 2018
Kathryn is very nice and great at really making sure you understand everything clearly and fully. Doing multiple practice tests so I won’t be shocked when I get to test day is probably what will contribute most to my score improvement.
~Kate A. (ACT Student)
August 20, 2018
Kathryn is the best tutor I've ever had. I don't know what helped the most, but I am sure she has helped me a lot. I do feel smarter.
~Ashlin K. (High School Preparedness/ISEE Student)
August 20, 2018
Kathryn exceeds all expectations. Ashlin's test taking skills and vocabulary have contributed the most to her success.
~Kelly O. (High School Preparedness/ISEE Parent)
June 12, 2018
There are many nice things I could say about Kathryn. She’s organized, a great communicator, patient, kind, knowledgeable, and has a great sense of humor. Most important of all, she is full of positive energy and is supportive and encouraging when working with my daughter. I would highly recommend her as a tutor. My only regret is that we didn’t find her sooner!
~Cynthia K. (ACT Parent)
June 7, 2018
Kathryn is very knowledgeable and well-spoken. She always went over confusing concepts and was a very patient teacher. Kathryn also has a great sense of humor and always made me smile. I believe the practice tests most contributed to my success, because they gave me the opportunity to go over difficult problems.
~Makena K. (ACT Student)
[Makena is on the Wall of Fame for her English and Reading scores!]
May 5, 2018
Kathryn prepared me to perform at the best of my abilities. She was diligent, thoughtful, dedicated, and most of all patient! I highly recommend going to her. Kathryn’s encouragement, support, and new ways to look at problem solving helped me improve the most. Her outgoing personality and positivity make the process much easier. Kathryn was not just a tutor but COACH — she guided me, recommended nutritious meals to eat, and always provided encouraging words. Thank you! If you need test prep, go to Kathryn.
~Taylor A. (GRE student)
April 4, 2018
The sessions were engaging and “fun,” at least as fun as ACT tutoring can be.
~David B. (ACT Student)
March 9, 2018
It was an absolute pleasure to work with Kathryn. Her ability to understand my struggle with being out of school for so long was very helpful. She was able to simplify what seemed so complicated at first and was an integral factor in my success.
~Anthony Y. (SAT Student)
February 10, 2018
Working with you helped Prisha with her confidence in her ability do well in the test. I really appreciated the regular updates on her progress for the week and what she need to focus ahead. She was always very excited after every session and ready to go for the next week. Besides the material and test prep, Prisha learned a lot about work organization and importance to attacking problems methodically. You made her feel very important and she/I both appreciate that very much.
~Neeru K. (ACT Parent)
February 8, 2018
I learned strategies that I had never heard of before. I also learned that sometimes you don’t have to understand the question to get it right. The strategies that Kathryn taught were helpful with the timing and getting through each passage efficiently.
~Prisha K. (ACT Student)
[Prisha is on the "Wall of Fame" for her English score]
February 7, 2018
Kathryn helped both my children increase their test scores for the ISEE in just 2 weeks. My kids both loved going to see her. She taught them invaluable test-taking skills. Practice tests, time management skills, and test-taking strategies all contributed to my children’s successes.
~Sheryl C. (ISEE Parent)
February 7, 2018
I like how Kathryn taught me not to do [complicated] math. She also taught me time management, which helped a lot.
~Dylan C. (ISEE Student)
[Dylan is on the "Wall of Fame" for her Reading Comprehension score]
January 26, 2018
I love how clear and organized Kathryn is. I love that she summarizes what she did immediately after the session and reminds my son what is expected of him for the next session. Most of all, I appreciate her support throughout the application process. Constantly doing the practice exams and having repeated to him what it is that he was not retaining, wither it be material or strategy, helped the most in improving my son’s scores.
~Nancy S. (ISEE Parent)
January 25, 2018
Kathryn is very nice and always answers my questions and always tries to help me improve my score. The thing that helped me the most was when Kathryn told me different strategies for different sections.
~Lucius S. (ISEE Student)
[Lucius is on the "Wall of Fame" for his Verbal Reasoning score]
January 16, 2018
Kathryn has a good sense of humor, and we always have fun conversations in the middle of our lessons. She showed me all the strategies I needed to improve my scores.
~Seth P. (ISEE Student)
[Seth is on the "Wall of Fame" for his Verbal Reasoning score]
January 8, 2018
Kathryn,
You did such an amazing job preparing Charlotte for this test. We will forever be indebted to you as this score will likely allow her to look at schools she may have never considered. More importantly, the process has boosted her self confidence!!
I will most certainly be sending you more students. We are most appreciative!!!
~Bari C. (ACT Parent)
[Charlotte is on the “Wall of Fame” for her English, Reading, and Overall scores!]
January 8, 2018
Kathryn was nice and helpful. I think working with the practice tests helped me improve my scores.
~Nadia Y. (ISEE student)
November 30, 2017
Kathryn was very understanding of my schedule homework-wise, taught me strategies from the books and many more not in books, and helped me learn things to prepare me which, in turn, boosted my confidence. Kathryn doesn’t just hand me formulas. She explains said formulas in a fun way that keeps me paying attention. She helped me not only feel ready, but also know I am ready for the ISEE.
~Jonas P. (ISEE Student)
[Jonas is on the "Wall of Fame" for all sections of the ISEE!]
October 24, 2017
Kathryn was an outstanding teacher and I got a really good understanding about everything on the test. Now I feel ready for the ACT. The new strategies and how to interpret the questions so they were more understandable really helped my scores improve.
~Cole B. (ACT Student)
September 26, 2017
If you are looking for a tutor for college prep, your search is over. Kathryn Adelstein offers a stellar service that covers the gamut of key ingredients to successful preparation for college exams. After looking at our options and weighing the pros and cons of a group class vs. private tutoring, it made sense for us to choose a one-to-one program for the following reasons: My daughter has a busy schedule, and the appointment times were customized to fit with everything else.
With over two decades of experience, Kathryn was laser sharp at tailoring sessions to capitalize on Angela’s strengths and spend time on areas needing improvement. We received a detailed email summary after each session, with links to additional resources. One of my favorite things about Kathryn’s work is that she shared tons of academic tips and psychological tricks she has developed over the years. She emphasized the strategic mental edge gained by getting enough sleep and eating protein-rich brain food… recommendations that sometimes sink in better coming from someone in her capacity than from a mom of a teenager! I’ve noticed that Angela has maintained these healthy habits even after the test – a major bonus as she continues through her intense junior year.
While the whole experience was enriching, the results are kind of a big deal in college testing. We were thrilled when Angela received a perfect score of 36 her first time taking the ACT. Kudos to Kathryn for her role in making this both a fun and astounding experience!
~ Janet M. (ACT parent)
[Angela is on the "Wall of Fame" for every category possible!]
September 19, 2017
Hi Kathryn,
Just a quick note to let you know that Carter got a 25 on the ACT!!!!!!! He did better in every single subject (29 English, 24 Math, 21 Reading, 26 Science). He’s a very happy camper! That’s amazing to think he increased 10 points from the first time he took it. You really have a knack for instilling confidence in your students.
Thanks so much of course for all your help. It was worth every penny! I still just can’t believe it!
~Candice H. (ACT Parent)
[Carter is on the "Wall of Fame" as #1 Most Improved Student!]
September 7, 2017
Using the strategies I’ve learned this summer, I’ve been able to transform the way I view/take the ACT. Kathryn’s methods were very well presented and helped me improve my score tremendously. I think the methods in Math and time management skills I learned in English, Reading, and Science, helped my score improve the most.
~Sofia P. (ACT Student)
[Sofia is on the “Wall of Fame” for her English, Reading, and Overall scores!]
September 7, 2017
Kathryn prepared me really well, gave me strategies to master the parts I was not too strong at, and taught me how to better do the parts I was already good at. The many strategies and shortcuts she taught me contributed to my score increases. Also the explanations of each and every question I missed helped me to avoid those mistakes on later tests.
~Gabriel C. (ACT Student)
[Gabe is on the “Wall of Fame” for #1 Most Improved and his Overall, English, Math, Reading, Science, and Perfect scores]
September 6, 2017
Kathryn was really fun to work with and I learned lot of new strategies to help with the ACT and SAT Subject Tests. I feel very well-prepared for all tests. Taking lots of practice tests to practice the strategies for the different ACT sections (picking numbers for math, and learning common wrong answer choices for English and Reading) contributed to my success.
~Angela M. (ACT Student)
[Angela is on the Wall of Fame for every ACT category possible: Overall, English, Math, Reading, Science, Perfect Scores, and Most Improved!]
September 6, 2017
I really enjoyed learning. I was not nervous to ask for clarification or questions, which was very helpful. It was an overall great experience. I think that the knowledge of the test being passed onto me was very helpful. The strategies and tips really contributed to an increase in my score.
~Alex R. (ACT Student)
September 5, 2017
Best tutor ever! I learned so much and feel extremely prepared for the ACT. Kathryn had amazing strategies that regularly help me not only on the ACT, but on tests in school as well. I think that having an individual tutor who I was so comfortable with helped me the most because I was always able to ask questions and get as much help as I needed.
~Charlotte C. (ACT Student)
[Charlotte is on the "Wall of Fame" for her English, Reading, and Overall scores!]
September 5, 2017
Kathryn is very energetic and demanding of her students. This is what makes her a great tutor and made me really put a lot of effort into taking tests and doing the bookwork. The first class, when Kathryn showed me the Wall of Fame, I was immediately telling myself that I have to be up there. This really worked because I am very competitive in everything I do.
~Brandon T. (ACT Student)
September 5, 2017
Kathryn really knows how to get her students motivated to want to study and to want to improve their scores, which makes her a fantastic tutor. To know that she has a Wall of Fame really motivated me to try my hardest to helpfully make the list. She also helped me to gain trust in her teaching abilities unlike my previous tutor at [a different tutoring company].
~Emma E. (ACT Student)
September 4, 2017
I really enjoyed my time working with Kathryn. My first thought about an ACT tutoring session was endless work that would eat away at my summer. Kathryn provided the perfect balance of practice work and tests. During our sessions, I enjoyed her short stories that helped explain tips and tricks to improve my ACT score. She is very friendly and the one-on-one sessions are a great way to learn and connect. Thank you, Kathryn, for the great supply of information and practice work. What contributed to my improvement were the tricks that helped me manage my time more efficiently.
~Collin P. (ACT Student)
[Collin is on the “Wall of Fame” for his scores Overall, English, Math, Science, and Most Improved!]
September 4, 2017
I really enjoyed tutoring sessions. I liked how the environment was very relaxed and I never felt judged. I think having a clear head and taking time at home to work helped me improve my scores.
~Zena G. (ACT Student)
September 4, 2017
My tutor was very smart and helpful. She was funny and I felt 100% comfortable around her. She taught in a helpful and easy way to understand. The constant practice helped my scores improve and going over the questions I got wrong.
~Kristin B. (ACT Student)
[Kristin is on the Wall of Fame for Most Improved (11 points!)]
September 3, 2017
Kathryn is very intelligent and made me feel very confident for not only the ACT, but other tests as well. What contributed most to my score improvement was Kathryn’s help in understanding the test.
~Kartik S. (ACT Student)
[Kartik is on the “Wall of Fame” for his Overall and English scores!]
September 3, 2017
I want to thank you so much for the time you have taken to help Ben prepare for the ACT. He really enjoyed his tutoring sessions and NEVER complained about completing the work you assigned. In fact, he said he really enjoyed the stories you told and the way you taught.
Today at the beach he was telling my friend that he was worried that you were going to have him sit and do tests the entire time while you watched, but instead you joked around with him and told funny stories all while teaching him effective test strategies. Needless to say, I'm sure I'll be passing on your number to a few friends. :-)
Ben is eager to take the test on Saturday and feels confident that he should do well. I know he has it in him to score really high on the test so hopefully he will stay calm and just do his thing.
We will let you know how he does once the scores are released.
Thanks again and best of luck to your son as he completes all those college essays.
~Janina (ACT Parent)
September 1, 2017
Kathryn was always very energetic and engaged in teaching the material. I feel very confident in my abilities after having tutored with her. Primarily practice and repetition of practice exams, coupled with tips and tricks contributed to my success.
~Ben W. (ACT Student)
[Ben is on the "Wall of Fame" for his Overall score as well as his scores on English, Math, and Science!]
August 17, 2017
Thank you! I feel like my math score will go up based on math lessons you taught me and English will go up because of strategies and being thorough while quick. My scores have gone up because our lessons were based on my weaknesses.
~Dylan C. (SAT student)
June 18, 2017
Kathryn, you were such a fun, smart, and entertaining tutor. I had a lot of fun learning History with you. You built up my confidence and gave me awesome study and test taking techniques!
~Lauren G. (CSET Student)
May 9, 2017
Kathryn was amazing as a tutor for my 12 year old son. She helped him prepare for the ISEE test. She improved his math score from a 3 to a 6 in one week!! He said he would have done poorly without her help. He scored great on the test and got accepted to the school.
Kathryn gave my son the confidence that he would do well. She gave him great strategies and taught him concepts above what he learned.
~Sheryl C. (ISEE Parent)
April 27, 2017
Kathryn was very good at teaching and understood everything.
~Van C. (ISEE Student)
[Van is on the "Wall of Fame" for earning a top score in Reading Comprehension]
February 9, 2017
I feel that Kathryn really helped with improving my scores since I did awful on the PSAT. What contributed to my improvement was learning these new and quick ways to find the answers to the problems.
~Nick C. (ACT Student)
January 19, 2017
It was fun to work with Kathryn. I learned a lot and enjoyed my time doing it.
~Carmella P. (HSPT Student)
January 4, 2017
Hi Kathryn,
I am sorry I didn't write you earlier I've been kind of clustered because I recently got accepted to University of Michigan College of Engineering! (Number 6 engineering, but who's counting?)
I applied non binding EA so hopefully there will be a lot more to come and I'll have a decision between U Michigan and another stellar school (fingers crossed, Stanford).
I have to thank you for being such a huge help through the standardized testing portion of my high school adventure. Also for being a huge inspiration for having such a great work ethic and telling me to "shoot for the stars." It was truly important to have you by my side.
I will keep you updated as I get accepted into more colleges (I went a little crazy and applied to upwards of 20). Hopefully, I can add to your accomplished college list (looks like you're missing a couple of little ivies).
Thank you,
~Matt G. (SAT/ACT Student)
[Matt is on the "Wall of Fame" for earning a score of 33 Overall on the ACT]
October 3, 2016
Hi Kathryn,
Thank you so much for all you did to help Mia prepare for the SAT. She absolutely loved working with you, and you completely turned the whole experience around for her. With your positive and fun approach, her SAT prep transformed from something arduous and stressful, into something totally manageable. During the actual test she had some issues with timing on some of the sections, and the essay was very challenging for her, so we'll see what kind of scores she gets--but there's no doubt that she felt prepared going in. And if she takes it again, we will definitely schedule some prep sessions with you again.....
So thank you!
~Naomi (SAT Parent)
[Mia is on the "Wall of Fame" for earning a score of 1500 on the new SAT]
September 8, 2016
Kathryn was incredible! I absolutely want to come back for more of her help when I work on my college applications! I think the one-on-one attention and Kathryn's way of simplifying everything was very helpful.
~Lauren N. (ACT student)
[Lauren is on the "Wall of Fame" for earning a score of 32 on the ACT overall and a perfect 36 on the Reading section!]
September 3, 2016
Kathryn,
Curt and I were very pleased with our decision to have Nathan work with you over the last few months. He is going into the test confident, thanks to your encouragement and training. He’s a bright kid but I knew he needed you to keep him accountable for those weekly assignments, which will ensure an outcome he will be happy with. Your encouragement at the first meeting to score high along with the weekly assignments and practice tests were the biggest contributors to his success!
I also appreciated the emails and tips along the way. We will certainly make sure that Nathan gets enough sleep, the proper nutrition and rest from his studying the night before the big day.
Thanks again for keeping me in the loop!
~Vanessa B. (ACT parent)
September 3, 2016
Kathryn was very encouraging and very confident in her teaching. Doing the practice tests and going over them with Kathryn helped me the most.
~Deniz K. (ACT student)
September 3, 2016
Kathryn gave both preparation and confidence to my daughter. Kathryn has opened another window to look at herself. Discipline, motivation, and fun all contributed to my daughter’s success.
~Sue K. (ACT Parent)
August 28, 2016
Knowledgeable and experienced, Kathryn knew how to both encourage me and keep me realistic. Her progression through the material was logical and helpful, skipping things I didn't need and reviewing what I did.
Taking and reviewing practice tests both in sections after their respective chapters and as wholes between sessions helped me improve the most.
~Nathan B. (ACT student)
[Nathan is on the "Wall of Fame" for earning a perfect score of 36 on the ACT!]
January 20, 2016
Not only was I informed about different methods, I really enjoyed the fun analogies that helped me understand concepts. I really like the strategies on how to tackle both the English and Math sections. I feel like that really helped me overall improve my scores as much as I could.
~Marai P. (SAT student)
January 20, 2016
Kathryn, you are so fun and relaxing to work with. I'm glad I found out about you! Learning the strategies definitely helped me improve my scores a lot! :-)
~Lana V. (SAT student)
January 20, 2016
Kathryn is very amusing and makes studying for the SAT not as boring. :-) Applying her strategies along with learning to time myself made the biggest difference in my scores. :-)
~Stella V. (SAT student)
January 13, 2016
I came in a little bit skeptical about her goals for my scores, but after 10 tutoring sessions I was completely confident. Kathryn explains things very well and comes up with brilliant strategies. I think taking practice tests and using Kathryn's strategies are what helped me the most.
~Jill B. (SAT student)
December 28, 2015
Kathryn is a fabulous tutor and I would – and have – recommended her to others. As a non-traditional (older) student, I gave up on the idea that I could "do math" several decades ago. Kathryn taught me to look at quantitative reasoning problems differently. As I learned to approach test problems, my ability and my confidence grew. I met the goals I set for myself on the GRE thanks to Kathryn's tutoring.
~ Karen S. (GRE student)
December 7, 2015
I loved working with Kathryn. It was both a lot of fun and very instructive. I feel that my scores have improved a considerable amount since I entered the tutoring sessions. I think my improvements come from the strategies we went over (especially the timing in Reading) and the repetitive practice on each section.
~Sam R. (ACT student)
[Sam is on the "Wall of Fame" for earning a perfect score of 36 on the Science section and a 34 overall on the ACT!]
November 21, 2015
Kathryn was the SAT tutor I needed. I couldn't imagine having prepared for this test with anybody else. Kathryn contributed to my score improvements by making this complex material seem easy.
~Tim D. (SAT student)
November 3, 2015
Kathryn is the most personable tutor I have ever encountered. Her methods helped me drastically enhance my lexicon. She helped me change my perspective of the SAT. Instead of trying to beat it, I began to think like the testmakers and apply SAT logic to everyday life. I feel like I am now obsessed with the SAT and find myself creating SAT questions in my few moments of leisure time.
~Matt G. (SAT student)
October 2, 2015
Loved it :-)
The little tricks and how to find what's important in each question helped me the most.
~Michelle C. (SAT student)
[Michelle is on the "Wall of Fame" for earning a perfect score of 800 on the SAT Math 2 Subject Test!]
October 1, 2015
Kathryn is a wonderful tutor who prepared my child for the SAT. She taught strategies of how to look at the test under a completely different angle, and how to solve problems quickly. My daughter enjoyed her time with Kathryn very much, and her confidence boosted up several degrees. I would recommend Kathryn 110% to anybody who is considering her services.
For now I would say my daughter's boost in confidence and believing she CAN do better has been the most helpful. It's her excitement about the test versus the worry about it. And, of course, the strategies are great. The ability for her to just guess sometimes, and that this is OK. Vicky had many "aha" moments, and "make sense" thoughts related to these strategies.
~Ellie K. (SAT parent)
September 28, 2015
I really enjoyed my tutoring sessions and Kathryn's approach to them. The tips and keys Kathryn provided for me helped me improve my scores.
~Montana K. (SAT student)
September 28, 2015
Kathryn is super fun. Learning what type of questions will be asked and how to approach each one helped me the most, plus, the confidence that goes along with that.
~Lexi G. (SAT student)
September 27, 2015
I enjoyed working with Kathryn due to the relaxed atmosphere and less stress I felt compared to other SAT prep classes I have gone to. I think my biggest improvement was in math; I realized that there were much simpler ways to get the answer to help save time.
~Alexis C. (SAT student)
September 14, 2015
The college prep material that Kathryn covered with me made me feel more comfortable and prepared for applications and college tours. Kathryn's help with reviewing each practice test I did helped me the most, since it helped me build on my mistakes.
~Colin N. (ACT Student; Personal Statement)
[Colin is on the "Wall of Fame" for Most Improved and an English score of 34 on the ACT!]
September 14, 2015
Kathryn was wonderful! She tailored my son's tutoring sessions to his specific needs. Not only did his scores improve, but more importantly, so did his self-confidence. The individualized sessions focused on strengths and weaknesses that helped my son target specific areas to improve his scores.
~Jill N. (Parent of ACT student)
July 22, 2015
Kathryn helped me with both the LSAT and my law school personal statement. With her great, positive attitude, she actually made working through test problems fun. Concentrating on the weaker parts of my testing "game" and steadily working to improve them until I saw success helped me the most.
She knows what admission committees look for in a student, and tailored my strengths to match, while making sure my "voice" and personality came through. I would strongly recommend her to anybody looking to get into their dream school!
~Maurice B. (LSAT Student/Law School Applications)
[Maurice is a member of USD Law School's class of 2019]
June 4, 2015
I am so happy that I got tutored by Kathryn. I know a lot of other people who would complain about having their tutoring, but every day I had it I was so excited. I never thought my scores would go up this high. I loved that we would not just do practice test after practice test, but started off by studying the content and strategies for each section, and then putting it all together into practice tests for homework.
What contributed most to my score improvement? EVERYTHING. It was helpful to hear the shortcuts, especially in math. I actually went up in the math section by "doing less math." [It really is a reasoning test.]
~Kenna C. (SAT student)
March 10, 2015
Kathryn has taught me about self-confidence and has truly made an impact on my life. The SAT doesn't seem like a scary monster any more. I feel that completing all of my homework on time and going over the problems I missed helped me the most.
~Kamryn T. (SAT student)
January 22, 2015
My tutor is awesome! Learning about the traps and how to increase my vocabulary helped me the most.
~Madie L. (SAT student)
October 20, 2014
I feel very relieved that we were able to put together such a great essay in such a short amount of time. I feel very comfortable sending my essay to my top university choices! I liked the fact that Kathryn typed out on her computer exactly what I was saying because it was easier for me to generate my thoughts through conversation than trying to type them while looking at a blank computer screen.
~Sarah Z. (Personal Statement/College Applications)
October 8, 2014
I will try my best to give Kathryn the recommendation that she deserves. We hired Kathryn to help our son prepare for the ACT. Our son has multiple learning disabilities and anxiety. He had taken the SAT prior to working with Kathryn and his test score was not reflective of his true ability and GPA (SAT-1770 is equivalent to an ACT score of 26). He enjoyed studying with Kathryn. She is straightforward, thorough and precise. Her plan works! Our son learned invaluable test taking skills from Kathryn. He sat for the ACT test and was confident and relaxed. His ACT score of 32 is a better reflection of his academic strength. This score has allowed our son to confidently apply to some of the top ranked schools in the country. We highly recommend Kathryn.
~Beth W. (Parent of ACT student)
June 11, 2014
Kathryn has such a positive attitude! My son never minded going to prep sessions and never complained. He felt like he learned many important test-taking strategies and felt confident about taking the tests.
Kathryn gave my son just the right amount of work -- not too much but enough that he kept improving. She was also great about working with his demanding schedule. I can't thank her enough!
~Karen A. (Parent of SAT and ACT student)
June 11, 2014
Kathryn made learning about SAT and ACT more fun than trying test prep in a classroom setting. It was always fun to hear her quirky stories, and these stories always helped me lean the material. She also always had a positive attitude.
I definitely benefited from taking multiple practice exams. They were great confidence-builders, and it helped me not be nervous on test day because I knew what to expect and I knew the test already.
~Nolan M. (SAT and ACT student)
[Nolan is on the "Wall of Fame" for earning a score of 2240 on the SAT!]
June 7, 2014
Kathryn was very personable and approachable. At times I felt that we got a little bit off track, but overall I had a very educational experience. My tutor made studying fun! I think the strategies Kathryn taught me definitely played an integral role in improving my score. I also feel that going over my questions and concerns about my practice tests helped me improve my score.
~ Natalie K. (SAT student)
[Natalie's score increased 360 points. She is now a member of Cal Poly's class of 2019.]
January 14, 2014
Kathryn did an excellent job covering all the subjects that are in the ACT and gave me the tools to excel on the test. I enjoyed what I learned and the time flew. Kathryn is the best.
Time management was a big part of my score improvement, along with strategies to use during the test and making sure that all the content we covered was understood.
~Andrew S. (ACT student)
[Andrew is now on the "Wall of Fame" for earning a top score of 31 on the ACT!]
January 6, 2014
Kathryn is fun, friendly, and helpful. She helped me learn a lot of good techniques for the test.
~Sarah D. (ISEE student, 4th grade)
October 10, 2013
What contributed most to my score improvement? Strategies like backsolving and picking numbers. Countless tips. Perhaps most importantly, the confidence that naturally follows being taught by the best around. I really enjoyed our sessions, Kathryn. Thank you very much!
~David S. (SAT student)
October 3, 2013
Although more expensive than other test preparation services, I selected Kathryn based on a favorable review by a well-respected co-worker. We utilized a different SAT prep service in the past. From the onset [with this other company], and throughout the curriculum, my daughter felt it was a waste of money. I had no means of confirming or rejecting this because we had one meeting with the tutor at the beginning of the session, and one at the end. We periodically corresponded via email when I initiated an inquiry.
Our experience with College Prep Tutoring was quite the opposite! Kathryn welcomed and addressed every concern I raised. I read each email summary and appreciated the detailed message and quick delivery.
I also respect Kathryn's optimistic, yet realistic, feedback on achievable scores. I feel Kathryn accurately marketed and sold her services. My daughter is known as being a direct individual who speaks her mind. When I asked if she felt the tutoring services were beneficial, she replied yes. When I inquired as to whether she thought the services were a waste of money, she replied no. When I asked what she would do differently, she shrugged and said the [2-hour] sessions were long. Relatively speaking, her response confirmed that I made the right decision as opposed to other services that meet for 4 consecutive hours each weekend.
~Toni A. (Parent of SAT student)
May 30, 2013
I especially appreciated the emails after each tutoring session which contained very actionable feedback. You have such a pleasant demeanor and are very motivational. Your flexibility regarding the tutoring schedule was also incredibly helpful. It has been a pleasure to work with you.
~Dianne G. (Parent of SAT student)
May 28, 2013
Thank you Kathryn! Your tutoring prepared Chloe for the SAT in more ways than I anticipated. She is ready with confidence as well as knowledge! We could not have asked for a better fit. Your organized style really helped Chloe improve by breaking the test down to steps which you executed week by week. Your knowledge and enthusiasm helped her reach her goals!
~Brenda Z. (Parent of SAT student)
May 25, 2013
Kathryn was very informative and knew the test backwards and forwards. Not only did she make my score improve, she made me feel comfortable taking the test. Kathryn really taught me what to look for in each type of question. She didn't try to re-teach me concepts; she encouraged me to think like the test maker in order to find the correct answer.
~Chloe Z. (SAT student)
[Chloe is now a member of Chapman University's class of 2018]
May 6, 2013
Kathryn was very prepared. Each session was a focused, driven exercise that pointed Jake in the right direction to be prepared for the SAT test. I think Kathryn excels at inspiring the student to aim high. Her style really worked well with my son and the on-on-one setting was a great way to connect with his strengths.
~Karen G. (Parent of SAT student)
May 2, 2013
Kathryn, thank you so much for everything. I really liked working with you and that you kept it fun and not as painfully boring as I had expected. We had some great conversations and thanks for listening to my problems and giving advice. :-) You really know what you're talking about and you teach it in a fun way. You're awesome and thank you so much.
~Gina T. (SAT student)
May 2, 2013
Even though I didn't like the idea of meeting with a tutor in Friday afternoons, Kathryn made our sessions enjoyable. Using shortcuts, learning vocabulary, and getting experience with the questions helped me most.
~Jake G. (SAT student)
May 2, 2013
My son was very happy to see Kathryn every session. He was motivated and excited to do his work. Knowing what to expect on the SAT has helped him to improve his scores.
~Aida S. (Parent of SAT student)
May 2, 2013
Kathryn helped me progress and prepare for the SAT amazingly. She was very kind and caring to me and truly wanted me to benefit. She understood exactly what I needed to do and helped me in every way to improve. Kathryn's methods and techniques to help me improve contributed most to my higher scores.
~Ramsey S. (SAT student)
April 23, 2013
Kathryn is patient, responsive, and knowledgeable about the topics on the test. She really, really wants her students to succeed and pushes them until they do. She is caring, funny and organized and knows a lot of important strategies for doing well. She has the experience and that special something that brings out the best in her students!!!
~Maurice B. (LSAT student)
[Maurice also worked with Kathryn to prepare for the SAT and revise his college and law school application essays. He is a member of UC Berkeley's class of 2014 and a member USD Law School's class of 2018.]
April 13, 2013
Kathryn helped me with what exactly I needed help on and taught me how to improve upon it. Definitely better than what I had expected. I expected someone that would just tell me what to do and how to do it and nothing more, but got someone who told me how, helped me understand why, and did not act condescending. What helped me the most is the fact that I was able to learn what I did wrong and why I was doing it, as opposed to this is wrong and I should know why.
~Dylan M. (ACT Student)
[Dylan broke the record and is now on the "Wall of Fame" for earning a top score of 32 on the ACT!]
March 28, 2013
I really enjoyed working with Kathryn. Our sessions were informal, but we got a lot of work done. It was an especially great experience because we connected personally as well as intellectually, so we had lively discussions about everything from the SAT to the movie version of Les Miserables. She is very familiar with and passionate about the SAT, and it shows in her teaching methods and attitude towards the test. It was perfectly suited for me, and I got a lot out of it.
Kathryn took away the illusion I had of a scary, difficult test, and gave me confidence that I could excel. She also advised me about which study materials to buy, which was very helpful because I had no idea which books would be best. Her knowledge about the SAT and the entire college application process soothed my apprehension and made me feel prepared, which was what I needed most. She also helped me to construct much stronger essays.
~ Colin G. (SAT student)
[Colin now holds the record on the Wall of Fame for our top overall SAT score, with perfect 800s on both the Reading and Math sections!]
December 2, 2012
Dear Kathryn,
You have changed my future! If it weren’t for your help, I would not have achieved my goal of a 2020 on the SAT. The score enabled me to apply to some of my dream schools. Your tutoring sessions were such a fun and easy way to improve my score. Thank you so much for everything!
Best Wishes,
~Katie M. (SAT student)
P.S. I refer you to all of my friends!
October 2, 2012
I obviously had a ton of fun working with you along the way which made me love improving and working on my SAT homework. People are always surprised when I say how much I love my SAT class when they dread theirs. I don’t think I could have had a better prep experience. Your unique techniques helped me realize a lot of tricks about the SAT that I could utilize to my advantage. Also, you really took the time to understand how I learn.
~Lizzie L. (SAT student)
October 1, 2012
Kathryn helped me learn what the traps were and take them into consideration before answering the questions. It helps knowing that the SAT doesn’t want us to do hard math.
~Daniel C. (SAT student)
[Daniel is on the Wall of Fame for "Most Improved SAT Score" with a 510-point increase!]
September 28, 2012
The most important thing to us was that Elizabeth connect, buy-in, and progress. Happily I can report that all of that and more has occurred. I know Kathryn gave her tools, tips, techniques, etc., but most of all I think she gave her confidence. She loves working with Kathryn and now actually LOVES doing math SAT practice tests. (Who are you and what have you done to my daughter?)
~Nella L. (Parent of SAT student)
September 27, 2012
Kathryn is great! She taught my speed. I loved it. She helped me most with understanding what the test asked.
~Jon H. (SAT student)
September 21, 2012
I am very pleased that Savannah found Kathryn. I immediately got a good feeling about her and felt very involved by being copied with her detailed progress reports. I recommend her strongly.
~Jeff S. (Parent of GRE student)